Kinky Boots
Book by Harvey Fierstein, Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Original Broadway Direction and Choreography by Jerry Mitchell
Direction Re-Created by DB Bonds
Choreography Re-Created by Rusty Mowery
The Muny
June 19, 2019
Cast of Kinky Boots
Photo: The Muny
The Muny’s 101st season continues this week with the regional premiere of the Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots. With a score by pop legend Cyndi Lauper and a book by celebrated playwright/actor Harvey Fierstein, this is a bold, energetic and fun show, with a lot of style and heart. And the Muny has brought a great cast and dazzling production values to the stage, to boot.
The story, based on a 2005 British film that was inspired by a true story, tells of a surprising friendship and an unusual business venture. When Charlie Price (Graham Scott Fleming) inherits his family’s shoe factory upon the death of his father, he feels inadequate to live up to his father’s standards and run the failing factory, until he meets drag queen Lola (J. Harrison Ghee), who also has a backstory and a complicated relationship with paternal expectations. The two go into business, with Charlie as manufacturer and Lola as designer, but there are still complications as the two prepare to showcase the new “kinky boots” at a prestigious fashion show in Milan. For Charlie, he has to deal with a legacy of perfectionism as well as his ambitious fiancee, Nicola (Caroline Bowman), who wants him to give up the factory and move to London with her. There’s also Lauren (Taylor Louderman), a factory employee who grows closer to Charlie as they work together. For Lola’s part, there’s the memory of a strict, unaccepting father as well as factory worker Don (Paul Whitty) who continually gives Lola a hard time. It’s a fun show with a catchy score, featuring some poignant ballads like “Not My Father’s Son” as well as some energetic production numbers such as “Sex Is In the Heel”, “Everybody Say Yeah”, and the uplifting, spirited finale “Raise You Up/Just Be”.
The production here is essentially a re-creation of the Broadway production, with original direction and choreography re-created, and with some key leading roles played by performers who have played the roles before. The cast is excellent, with Ghee as Lola especially strong, both vocally and in sheer presence. Ghee works well with the also excellent Fleming, who puts in a sensitive performance as the conflicted Charlie. Louderman also turns in a winning performance as Lauren, even though the character isn’t given a lot to do at times, but still, Louderman excels especially belting out Lauren’s solo “The History of Wrong Guys” and has good chemistry with Fleming’s Charlie. Other standouts include Whitty as the belligerent Don, and John Scherer in a fun comic turn as Charlie’s assistant at the factory, George. Also worthy of special mention the “Angels” (Callan Bergmann, Ian Fitzgerald, Valton Jackson, Jacob Lacopo, Michael Olaribigbe, Kyle Post, Ricky Schroeder, and Joey Taranto), who back up Lola in her nightclub act, and who exhibit a delightfully flashy, enthusiastic style.
The production values here are simply stunning, utilizing the newly renovated Muny stage with utmost flair. Michael Schweikardt’s set is colorful and versatile, complemented well by Shawn Duan’s video design. The costumes by Gregg Barnes are especially dazzling, suiting the characters from factory workers to drag queens with stylish detail. There’s also excellent lighting by Nathan W. Scheuer and a great Muny Orchestra and music direction by Ryan Fielding Garrett.
Kinky Boots is, above all, a show with energy and heart. It portrays a growing friendship with poignancy and charm, as well as dealing with father/son relationships, romance, acceptance of differences, and more. It’s an upbeat and highly entertaining production from the Muny, and another remarkable success for a so-far stellar 101st season.
Cast of Kinky Boots
Photo: The Muny
The Muny is presenting Kinky Boots in Forest Park until June 25, 2019
